Earliest meeting: Thursday 24th March 1864
Final meeting: Tuesday 19th March 1867
The Fenland market town of Chatteris, in north east Cambridgeshire, was mentioned in the Domesday Book and had a close association with Boudica. Today it is ideally placed as a commuter town for Cambridge and Peterborough, but back in the middle of the 19th century it held its own race meetings. The first recorded meeting was held on the Oak Tree course in March 1864 and was sufficiently well supported by thousands of people to be repeated for each of the next 3 years. That inaugural meeting was held on Thursday 24th March 1864, although it had been scheduled for Thursday 10th March, but the course was submerged. The meeting consisted of two cross country races, two flat races and a supporting pony race. The Stewards were Mr J Brooks, Mr R Billups, Dr Farrar, Mr L Curtis and Mr W Triplow. The Judge for the day was Mr S Brooks and the starter was Mr T Dunn. Mr S Parsons acted as Clerk of the Scales, whilst the Clerks of the course were Mr Angood and Mr Bearpark. As one would expect, given the towns close proximity to Newmarket, many of the Newmarket stables sent runners. After the meeting the Stewards’ Dinner was held at The George Hotel. The final meeting took place on Tuesday 19th March 1867 and concluded with a Hurdle race won by Dr Farrar’s Byefield.
Thursday 24th March 1864
Chatteris Flat Race over 1 mile
1. Tricks, brown mare owned and ridden by Dr Farrar
2. Flying Dutchman, chestnut gelding owned by Mr L Curtis and ridden by J Kirkby
3. Come Again, brown gelding owned by Mr F Reynolds and ridden by J Bedford
Betting 3/1 Tricks
Chatteris Open Steeplechase over 2 miles
1. Corkscrew owned and ridden by Mr Jenkins
2. Redwing, chestnut horse owned by Mr Chadwick and ridden by Mr Dixon
3. Westender, brown gelding owned by Captain Machall and ridden by Mr Kimbeat
4. Friar of Apshall, chestnut horse owned by Mr C Green and ridden by Mr Topham
5. Flighty, chestnut horse owned and ridden by Mr H Weston
6. Bandsman, brown gelding owned by Mr R Cotton and ridden by Mr Frost
7. Flotilla, brown mare owned by Mr J Hayes and ridden by Mr J T Pears
The final record of a meetig was Tuesday 19th March 1867 and details are shown below:-
Thursday 24th March 1864
Chatteris Open Steeplechase over 2 miles
1. Corkscrew owned and ridden by Mr Jenkins
2. Redwing, chestnut horse owned by Mr Chadwick and ridden by Dixon
3. Westender, brown gelding owned by Captain Machall and ridden by Kimbeat
Betting: Evens Redwing, 6/4 Corkscrew, 2/1 Fair Apshall
The final meeting took place on Tuesday 19th March 1867.
Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-
London Illustrated News
Racing Illustrated 1895-1899
The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated
Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
The Sporting Magazine
A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727
